Trump Sworn In As 45th U.S. President

In his first speech as the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump said “together we will determine the course of America and the world for many, many years to come.”

Trump was officially sworn in Friday as Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office on the West Front of the Capitol.

Trump began his inaugural address by saying Americans have “joined a great national effort to build our country and restore its promise for all people.”

“We will face challenges, we will confront hardships, but we will get the job done,” he said. “Today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington D.C. and giving it back to you, the American people.”

He thanked President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama “for their gracious aid throughout this transition.”

“They have been magnificent,” he said.

The new president pledged that his administration will take American in a new direction.

Earlier the Trumps attened a church service which was followed by coffee at the the White House with now former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. The two leaders then shared a limousine ride to Capitol Hill for the inaugural ceremonies.

“It’s a really exciting event to be a part of,” said Jason Katz, a student at George Washington University.

The Obamas greeted the Trumps Friday morning at the grand North Portico of the White House, where they exchanged pleasantries and Melania Trump brought a gift for Michelle Obama.

Before Trump was sworn into office, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administered the oath of office to Vice President Mike Pence.

Trump and Pence took the stage at the Capitol minutes after Obama and members of his family and administration. Trump was joined by his family, including his wife, Melania, and five children, Eric, Don Jr., Ivanka, Tiffany and youngest son, Barron.

The stands were filled with past presidents Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, former first ladies, including Hillary Clinton, as well as other presidential hopefuls from the campaign.

Trump addressed some of the country’s woes and troubles he hit on during the campaign.

He described closed factories as “tombstones” that dot the county and said the federal government has spent billions defending “other nations’ borders while refusing to defend our own.”

Trump said the oath of office he just took “is an oath of allegiance to all Americans” and said that the country will share “one glorious destiny.”

He said he will “fight for you with every breath in my body and I will never, ever let you down.”

Trump also attempted a call for unity, even as protesters clashed with police in downtown Washington, saying, “when you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.”

He closed his first speech as president with his campaign slogan: “Make America great again.”

“Together, we will make America strong again, we will make America wealthy again, we will make America proud again, we will make America safe again and, yes, together, we will make America great again,” he said.

Hundreds of thousands poured out of the National Mall and felt the enormity of the grand American ritual of the transition of power.

“When he got sworn in, I got choked up,” said Lina Donnamaria of Brooklyn. “I’m from New York, and he’s a New York guy who worked hard, and it goes to prove that if you work hard in this country, you can go places”

“His speech was incredible, the crowd was incredible, the weather held out – it was the most wonderful day for America that I have seen in many, many years,” said Caren Bonadies of Old Bridge, New Jersey.

For those who got up close, it was all about wardrobe Long-time Trump friend and political strategist Roger stone said Trump was undecided about what he himself would wear.

And in the chill, headgear sold fast and vendors did a brisk business.

“It’s all about making a buck – just hustling, make a buck,” said vendor Mark Daniels. “Capitalism — the great American way.”

Following the inauguration ceremony, the Trumps said goodbye to the Obamas as they boarded a helicopter en route to Joint Base Andrews where the former president and first lady boarded their presidential aircraft — designated a “special mission” instead of Air Force One, because the sitting president was not on board — to Palm Springs, California.

The new president made his Cabinet nominations official just after he took office.

Trump distributed pens to congressional leaders according to whether they liked his choices. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, for instance, received the pen that Trump used to nominate Elaine Chao, McConnell’s wife, to be transportation secretary.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi jokingly objected to getting a pen used to nominate Tom Price to be health secretary. At that point, House Speaker Paul Ryan chimed in, “I’ll take it.”

The Republican-led Senate voted to confirm retired Marine General James Mattis to be Trump’s defense secretary Friday afternoon.

After signing his first orders as Commander in Chief, Trump attended a traditional luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies at Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol. He immediately walked to Bill and Hillary Clinton’s table and shook the hand of the defeated Democratic presidential nominee.

Following toasts by several Democratic and Republican congressional leaders, the president acknowledged the Clintons in a short speech, saying he has “a lot of respect for those two people.”

The remarks were a deep contrast with some of the rhetoric heard on the campaign trail, when Trump repeatedly said Hillary Clinton deserved to be in jail because of her private email server issues.

The bipartisan crowd of lawmakers and other dignitaries gave Clinton a standing ovation after Trump asked her to rise.

The president and vice president made their way towards the White House in the inauguration parade following the congressional luncheon. Trump stepped out of his limousine — nicknamed “The Beast” — several times to briefly walk along the parade route with the first lady and their 10-year-old son, Barron.

Running over an hour and a half behind schedule, the first family reviewed the remainder of the parade from a viewing stand near their new home.

As it grew dark, group after group marched past as the new president and first lady watched a march composed of 8,000 people. Among those marching were the NYPD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, and the Nassau County Pipes and Drums.

Later Friday, Trump went on to sign an executive order instructing federal agencies to minimize the burden of his predecessor’s signature accomplishment, the Affordable Care Act, pending congressional repeal.

He also signed paperwork commissioning Mattis as Secretary of Defense and John Kelly as Secretary of Homeland Security. Both were sworn in by Vice President Pence afterward.

White House Chief of staff Reince Priebus also sent a memo to federal agencies instructing the bureaucracy to cease issuing new regulations and to enact a federal hiring freeze.

On Friday evening, members of the military, veterans and first responders were present as President Donald and First Lady Melania Trump arrived at the “Salute to Our Armed Services” ball.

The invitation-only event was held in Washington’s National Building Museum, which has hosted such events since the days of Grover Cleveland.

“You’re going to see things happening over the next few weeks – oh, you’re going to be so happy,” President Trump said.

The president and first lady went on to dance to a performance of the Frank Sinatra song “My Way.” They later attended two more balls.

Far fewer people were at Trump’s inauguration than attended Obama’s first swearing-in eight years ago.

Photos of the National Mall from Obama’s inauguration in January 2009 show a teeming crowd stretching from the West Front of the Capitol all the way to the Washington Monument.

Photos taken from the same position on Friday show large swaths of empty space on the Mall.